SIX nurseries could be created at primary schools in Newport and one shut down under plans.

Nurseries are to be set up at Marshfield, Langstone, Pentrepoeth, Millbrook, Monnow and St Patrick’s RC Primary School, while a stand-alone nursery at Don Close in Bettws will close, unless any objections are received during the month-long notice period, which will start when a public notification is released.

Any objections mean the plans must be sent to the Welsh Government minister for education Huw Lewis to be decided.

If there are no objections to the St Patrick’s proposal its governing body will have the final say, with all other decisions left to Newport cabinet member for education Bob Poole if there are no objections.

Cllr Poole has approved two reports by assistant head of education Amanda Davies, and the council will now publish statutory notices of the plans. Governors and staff at Millbrook and Monnow primary schools welcomed the idea of new nurseries during consultation in February and March, but there were objections to Don Close shutting down. There were “considerable objections” to the Marshfield and St Patrick’s proposals, because two playgroups would need to move, while in Pentrepoeth there were seven objections and six in Langstone.

Marshfield councillor Richard White asked for the phrase “considerable objections”

to be quantified and labelled as being from parents, governors or members of the public.

He also asked what steps are being taken to help Castleton playgroup find new premises.

Amanda Davies said property services would look into relocating the group.

No indication has yet been given of the cost of closure and setting up new nurseries, but the report said redundancies at Don Close, which employs four staff, are a possibility.

Governing bodies of Millbrook and Monnowwould be asked to ring fence any new posts for the Don Close staff.

The Argus contacted Don Close nursery but no one was available for comment.